Electric switch for motor-carriages.



No. 7 2,034. PATENTEDJUNE 7, 1904 1H. 0. FOLGBR. 31.501310 SWITGH FOR MOTOR GARRIAGES.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 18. 1908.

- UNITE STATES Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. FOLGER, OF WEST SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN COIL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A OO- PARTNERSHIP.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR MOTOR-CARRIAGES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 762,034, dated June 7, 1904.

Application filed December 18,1903. Serial No. 185,630. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY O. FOLGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in W est Somerville, in the county of Suffolk and State 5 of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches for Motor Oarriages, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings IO representing like parts.

In motor-carriages and the. like of the kind operated by an electric spark it is usual to place a switch on the dashboard or the side of the vehicle in convenient position to cutoff T 5 the current when the vehicle is not in use, and

this switch thus exposed to the view of the passer-by and small boy has seemed to invite meddling therewith, much to the annoyance and sometimes to the loss of the owner of the 20 vehicle. Various kinds of plugs, removable and otherwise, have been suggested for remedying the defect; but all of these have their objections, and accordingly 1 have devised a switch in which the handle itself may be in- 2 5 stantly removed and placed in the pocket when the operator of the vehicle leaves the latter to step into a hotel, store, (820., yet the switch-handle can be instantly replaced and locked in position ready for use whenever desired.

The constructional details of my invention will appear more fully in the course of the following description, attention being directed to the accompanying drawings, in which 3 l have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the same in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Figs. 3 and 4: are de- 4 tails in plan view of the separate parts of the handle removed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the conditions and manner of use thereof. I

Referring to Fig. 5, where the body por- 45 tion of a motor-vehicle is shown, it will be seen that my improved switch a is mounted just below the seat in usual position, the upper contact 0 thereof being connected by a wire w to one contact-post of a box 20, containing a usual condenser and primary of an 5 induction-coil, and the other contacts, a a, being connected, respectively, to batteries and thence to the other binding-post of the box w, the secondary terminals being indicated at w" w. A switch-handle (f is indicated as in intermediate position between the two terminals a 0 This is a usual place of locating the switch in this class of apparatus and has seemed to invite unwarranted interference in tampering with the machine, so that various expedients for preventing the same have been .found necessary. Accordingly as the most efiicient means I have arranged a removable switch-handle, which may be quickly removed entirely, leaving no means of bridg- 5 ing the long distance from a to a or a, so that it is thereafter practically beyond the power of the small boy to start the vehicle by closing the circuit.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4:, it will be seen 7 that the switch comprises a base-block a, in which the various contacts mentioned are mounted, the upper contact (0 consisting of a stud having an annular recess a, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for receiving the cut-out por- 7 5 tion or notch a of the handle a". In connection with the recess a I provide suitable means for quickly locking the handle (0 for pivotal movement on the stud a, and, as herein shown, this locking means consists of an 8 annular plate or disk a having a recess a",

corresponding to the recess 6/, and a suitable shifting means, shown as a spring-lip (0 constituting a handle, this annular locking device moving in a path or annular recess a, formed 8 5 to receive the same in the handle a". As shown, this recess is formed by providing the handle with a removable portion or plate a, set against a shoulder a and held in position by a screw (6, an annular lip a being struck 9 up at the pivotal end for retaining the locking device and the upper part of the handle adjacent said lip being cut away, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for receiving said locking device. The annular recess a. of the stud gives a lateral grip to the handle (0*, so as to hold the latter firmly in engagement with its contacts. Preferably the handle (1 is bent around, as indicated at a, so as normally to engage the handle (0 and cause the locking device to move with the handle (0, thereby preventing its accidental unlocking.

In use when the driver of the motor-carriage leaves the same he simply swings the handle a around from the position shown in Fig. 1 until the two slots (4 a are in alinement and then withdraws the handle and puts it in his pocket. When he returns, he re places the handle by inserting the same in the recess a, the alined. slots (6 a" passing around the stud, and then turns the locking device a? into the position shown in Fig. 1. All this can be accomplished in a moment, and it atfords convenient and efl'ective means for absolutely preventing unauthorized interference with the switch of the vehicle.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch comprising a stud having an annular recess, a handle having a notch to enter said recess and embrace said stud, and a locking device moving across said notch for locking said handle to swing on said stud.

2. A switch, comprising a stud having an annular recess, a handle havinga notch to enter said recess and embrace said stud, and a locking device mounted on said handle to enter said recess, and havinganotch to embrace said stud transversely of said handle-notch, for removably locking the handle to turn on said stud.

3. A switch, comprising a stud having an annular recess, a handle having a notch to enter said recess and embrace said stud, said handle having a path formed about said recess, and a locking device mounted to move in said path across said handle-recess to removably lock the handle in place.

i. A switch, comprising a stud having an annular recess, a handle having a notch to enter said recess and embrace said stud, said handle having a path formed about said recess, and a locking device mounted to move in said path across said handle-recess to removably lock the handle in place, and means for preventing aceidental movement of said locking device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY C. FOLGER.

Witnesses:

Gno. I-I. MAXWELL, S. W M. LUTTON. 

